Review: Etat Pur Prescription

I recently entered a giveaway on Holly Arabella's blog, with the prize being a personalised solution from skincare specialists Etat Pur - and guess what? I won!

Etat Pur provide skincare products that are tailored for specific types of skin, and by using their personalised solution questionnaire, it allows customers to be educated on what types of products they should be using in their daily (and nightly) routine. To be honest, i'd never heard of this company before reading Holly's review, but I was instantly intrigued by the idea of being personally guided through hand-picked products as there are so many different skincare products out there it's enough to make your head spin. Etat Pur can recommend products targeting at different skin problems, ages or skin types - which means you really can find what suits you.

I was absolutely thrilled, purely because I never win anything. I was told to go onto their website and complete their questionnaire, which looks like this:

 

(The questionnaire is longer by the way, my screen just isn't big enough to view it all at once!)

From there, I was given a list of different products ranging from cleansing waters to spot treatments, and within a week or so I received this in the post:

Clockwise from top left: Purifying Cleansing Gel | Express Purifying Mask | Micellar Purifying Cleansing Water | Salicylic Acid 70 | Salicylic Acid 300 | Enoxolone | Oat

As you can see from the products I was sent that I focused quite a lot on cleansing, which is what I chose to be of great importance to me on the questionnaire. This is because I am obsessed with having clean and clear skin at the end of the day, as there is no greater beauty sin than leaving your make-up overnight (Seriously, you're asking for trouble!). I also find that my nose and general T-zone area gets quite red easily and I hate having spots, so I wanted to focus on those aspects too as well as ensuring that all the product were suitable for oily and sensitive skin. A tall order, right? You'd like to think so!

This review will be in two parts, the cleansing treatments and then the problem skin treatments, purely because with the skin treatments results are expected after days of ongoing use, so I cannot give an accurate review. But here's a few words on some of the products I did receive:

Purifying Cleansing Gel

 This light cleansing gel gently foams, removing excess subum (oil) and purifying your face without drying it out. It's great for sensitive skin as it's so fine and doesn't include any nasty chemicals. I like to use this in the morning because after rinsing off it feels as though you've just applied a face mask - your skin feels so nourished and ready for the day. It doesn't contain any soap or alcohol, so if you accidently get some in your eye it won't sting! This is great as it doesn't leave your skin feeling too heavy, so i'm not afraid to continue to tone and moisturise afterwards.
Purifying Cleansing Gel is priced at £7.70.

Express Purifying Mask

I was really excited about this product as i'm such a huge fan of face-masks. This 5-minute clay mask removes excess sebum as well as absorbs other harmful toxins, and unblocks pores. You only need a thin layer so 50ml goes a long way, and afterwards my skin felt rejuvinated and well moisturised. It's suitable for all skin types, but is recommended twice a week for combination to oily skin, and once a week for normal to dry. It leaves your skin feeling silky smooth, and without a single trace of dirt or make-up.
Express Purifying Mask is priced at £7.50.

Micellar Purifying Cleansing Water

This has been by far the most used and loved product that I received. It removes make-up and cleanses the face in a single wipe, which basically eliminates a step in my nightly skincare routine! It's alcohol and soap free, removes excess sebum, and is even suitable for removing eye make-up. It makes your skin feel clean and refreshed, as well as prepped for your toner and moisturiser. I can say nothing but good things about this! I tend to use this at night as it removes my make-up, and then use the gel in the morning, but they're both equally as great so it really depends on whether you feel like running to the sink to rinse or not.
Micellar Purifying Cleansing Water is priced at £7.40.

Like I said, once I have tested the spot and redness treatments as directed I will post my review, so stay tuned! But for now, click here to visit the Etat Pur website and fill in your personalised solution questionnaire. I highly recommend trying out some of their products, whether your new to skincare or you feel like your current products just aren't cutting it - trust me, these will!

Thank you so much to Holly Arabella, Etat Pur and Wizard PR for this amazing giveaway gift - I'm so pleased with it and I can't wait to try out some more of their products once it's time to stock up again!

Review: Lush's 'Enzymion' Moisturiser

I apologise for my lack of posts this past week, once again University deadlines have left me with little time to blog. However, on my day off I managed to pick up a new facial moisturiser. My face has started to become oily again, and I ran out of my Porefessional primer that tends to dry up all the excess oil, so I thought I should really get a good moisturiser that does the job for me on a daily basis,  so I don't have to wear makeup in order to achieve good looking skin.

I chose Lush as I love using their cleansers and charcoal scrubs, which are both featured in this post, so I knew they would be reliable. I was immediately directed to a moisturiser called Enzymion, which is described as a 'fruity moisturiser to liven up oily skin'. Simple.

It uses fresh lemons and papayas, along with cocoa butter so it leaves your skin feeling smooth and moisturised but soaks up all that excess oil. It has a really fruity frangrance to it also, which can be quite overpowering at times. I'm not the greatest fan of the smell, however it doesn't transfer onto your skin so it isn't really a problem.

The great thing about Lush products is that they are sold in generous portions. Enzymion is sold in tubs of 45g, and as you only need the smallest amount to dot on your cheeks, t-zone, chin and neck it's really great value. It can be worn alone or underneath makeup. I have tried with both, and have found that it makes a really great base for foundation and helps keep my skin looking flawless for longer.

The oil is gone and my skin feels fresh and looks bright and healthy. For £13.50, you could say that it's quite steep. However, Lush products are always made with love and care, and use the finest natural ingredients so you don't have any harsh or nasty chemicals creeping their way into your skin.

This is now part of my daily cleansing routine, and will remain there for a long time. I love Lush, and I love what this moisturiser has done to my skin.

You can purchase Enzymion here, or at your nearest Lush shop.

Review: Lush's 'Catastrophe Cosmetic' Face Mask

I love Lush. I simply can't get enough of it. It's eco, unique and smells incredible! So when I wanted to have a relax on one of my rare nights off from work, I knew I had to get a Lush face mask. I was told to get this particular face mask as it was specific to sensitive and oily skin, and it contains antioxidants that help soothe and calm spots.

One of the key ingredients are fresh blueberries, which I love because you can actually see little chunks of fresh ones when you put the mask on your face. It also includes talc and camomile (Perfect for sensitive skin!) and almond oil to soften your face.

To be honest, it doesn't look too attractive, but trust me, it's great! It comes in such a small pot you'd think you'd need to use the entire contents, but there's so much packed in there that there is enough for as least three uses! I had to put it on quite thickly, but to be honest I didn't want to miss a chance of it soothing my spots so I layered it on thick. I kept it on for five minutes and then washed it off with warm water. Instantly it felt like my face had been cleared of all the rubbish and I was left with a fresh new layer of skin! It felt as though my face had never been as clean as it was right then! My spots weren't as red and I couldn't stop feeling my cheeks.

It retails at £5.50, which may seem a bit steep for some. But for three usages, I think it's completely worth it. The only negative comment I have is that as it has to be kept in the fridge it starts to bring the moisture to the top so you have to pour the liquid away, unless you like a more watery mask!

How I Tackle Oily Skin!

I never really realised I had oily skin until I used 'Take The Day Off' Cleansing Milk by Clarins. It was amazing at taking off my make-up, but I wasn't informed by the salesperson that it was for people with particularly dry skin so it was really oily. After that, I realised that my skin was naturally red and oily and it was very difficult to make my foundation stick for more than a few hours.

I will say this now, and no doubt I will say it again: Lush Cosmetics.
I cannot get enough of this shop! I went in there and asked what they recommended, and I ended up purchasing two products that I can no longer live without:

Photograph taken from Lush Cosmetics website

I usually do my cleansing routine in the shower, because it can get kind of messy! Firstly I use my Fresh Farmacy cleansing bar. They sell it at £4.50 for 100g (Which I think is enough!), and it's basically a calamine lotion in a solid form. It's ingredients include tea tree oil (Which is renowned for battling oily skin) and lavender oil which soothes the redness. What's great about this product is that it doesn't actually include hardly any soap, which they have intentionally avoided to reduce the impact it has on the skin. I use this bar by wetting my hand and lathering it up with it until my hand is totally covered. I then cover my face with it, massaging as I go and then wash it off with warm water. I love feeling my face afterwards, because it feels as though all the dirt and rubbish has been washed away! I use this every time I shower.





The next product I use for every other shower I have, because it is technically a scrub which can be harsh on your face. It's called Dark Angels and can be purchased from Lush for £5.95. This is excellent value for money because there is so much compacted in the pot and it definitely does the job! The scariest thing about it is that it is jet black, and doesn't smell particularly pleasant. That is thanks to the charcoal, Rhassoul mud and black sugar "which together make a very absorbant and exfoliating cleanser".
Before you use this, please make sure you don't have anything white or lightly coloured e.g.: A bath mat or towel lying around, as it can stain!After i've used the Fresh Farmacy, I take a small amount in my hand (On the container it says 'penny-sized') and lather it up with some water so it forms a paste. I then massage it into my skin until it is completely covered. I then wash it off with warm water, leaving my face feeling tight and clean, with all the excess oil washed away. The only negative comment I have about this product is that it's shelf life is only three months, and for the amount you are supposed to use and the amount of times it's recommended to use it you end up wasting a fair amount.

I've found that this routine has reduced the redness on my face, and that the loss of oil has made my make up stay on longer. My skin feels healthier, cleaner and is extremely soft! These two products are definately two of the best that Lush has to offer and I don't think i'll ever try anything else!

What are your cleansing routines?